Inferno - Chelle Bliss by Chelle Bliss

“How do you know?”

“I…” I can’t finish the statement because I don’t know what we are exactly. “I don’t believe in soul mates.”

She faces forward, squinting to make out the road signs. “Make the next right. And Bear’s my soul mate. My life wouldn’t have been complete without him.”

“You two have something special.”

She barks out a laugh. “The man chased me relentlessly. We were never supposed to be, but what’s meant to happen…happens.”

I turn where she told me. “Fran, this is a residential area. Are you sure there’s a restaurant here?”

“A restaurant? No, sweetie. We’re going to my sister-in-law’s. She makes the best food. You’ll have nothing better.”

“Your sister-in-law’s?” My palms instantly begin to sweat. “I can just drop you off.”

“No. No. You’re invited.”

This is more than I bargained for, but my stomach is growling at the thought of a home-cooked meal. “I don’t know.”

“Stone’s grandmother is excited to meet you.”

A knot forms in my stomach. Stone’s grandmother? Holy crap. My heart picks up the pace, working overtime. “Fran.”

She laughs again. “Relax, Opal. Maria is amazing. You’ll see,” she says. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

I want to believe her, but I’m more nervous than I have been in a very long time. “She knows about me?”

“Baby, we all know about you.”

Stone had said there weren’t any secrets in his family, especially when it came to the women and Fran. “What do you know?”

“Everything.”

Shit. I can’t imagine what she, or Stone’s grandmother, thinks. A broke-ass girl, hanging out with Stone within minutes of her boyfriend walking out on her.

“Damn,” I mutter.

“Stone’s a good kid. A bit of a dummy when it comes to relationships, but otherwise sweet.”

“He’s been nothing but great to me.” I don’t tell her about the other night and the fact that we slept together. We’ve already overcomplicated a complicated situation.

“Of course. He’s just like his daddy. Mike is one of the best. He treats Mia like she walks on water. Don’t accept anything less than being treated like a princess. But Mike wasn’t always so smart. He was stubborn, and Stone’s a carbon copy of that man.”

I barely hear what she’s saying because I’m too busy having a mini freak-out about having lunch with not only Stone’s aunt, but also his grandmother.

“Third driveway.”

One. Two. Three. I turn, and my eyes widen as soon as they land on his grandmother’s house. It’s not even a house. That’s too small of a word for the mansion that’s at the end of a long drive lined with the most beautiful hibiscus bushes.

“I know it’s a lot. My sister-in-law can be flashy sometimes, but she’s a great woman. She must be in order to put up with my brother’s bullshit.”

I duck my head, staring up at the grand entrance to what would’ve looked like a royal palace to me as a kid.

“I know. I know. It’s a bit gaudy, but it needs to be big. When you have damn near fifty people over for dinner every weekend, you need something this grotesque.”

I blink. “Fifty people?” I whisper.

They’re an entire tribe, and I don’t even have one other person to call my own. I always knew I’d missed out on a lot, but I haven’t let myself really understand how much different my life is from others.

“You’ll meet them all, but not today.”

“I don’t think—” I start to say, but Fran opens the door to the car and starts to get out. “Well, okay, then,” I say to myself as the door closes.

For a split second, I think about running. This is a lot in a short amount of time. But thankfully, Stone’s truck isn’t anywhere to be seen. I can get through a lunch with two old ladies. I’m sure they’ll spend the entire time talking about the good old days and their medications.

The front door to the house opens as I climb out, and a beautiful woman with gray hair greets Fran, looking over her shoulder at me. “You did it,” she says to Fran. “I should’ve never doubted you.”

I didn’t ask Fran how she got my phone number, but I guarantee it was from the autobody shop because I can’t see Stone giving it out to anyone in his family.

Fran turns to me with the biggest smile, waving her hand in my direction. “Maria, this is Opal, Stone’s girl.”

I lift my hand, raising a finger. “I’m not Stone’s girl,” I say again. Fran knows this but keeps on pushing the issue.

“Sure, sugar,” Fran says. “Whatever you say.”

“Finally,” Maria, Stone’s grandmother, says, motioning for me to step closer. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

I’m sure she has, from everyone in the family except Stone. He wasn’t lying when he said there’re no secrets between his relatives.

“Hi, ma’am,” I say, giving her a small wave before being enveloped in an all-consuming hug. “Well, okay.” I can barely wheeze out the words because she’s crushing me with all her might.